Print this page Islands of Angry Ghosts: The Batavia Shipwreck Rediscovered

The wreck of the Dutch ship Batavia is one of Australia's most dramatic and disturbing historical stories. Following the shipwreck off the Western Australian coast in 1629, mutiny, violence and survival unfolded in extraordinary circumstances. This course revisits both the original tragedy and the remarkable rediscovery of the wreck in 1963, drawing on Hugh Edwards' classic Islands of Angry Ghosts. Participants will explore the archaeological discoveries, historical evidence and enduring fascination of one of Australia's greatest maritime mysteries.

DELIVERY MODE

Online

COURSE RESOURCES

• Hugh Edwards, Islands of the Angry Ghosts

COURSE OUTLINE

• Background of the Dutch East Indies Company
• The Brouwer sea route to the Dutch East Indies
• The wreck of the Batavia
• Subsequent events
• False assumptions about the location of the wreck in the mid 20th century
• Re-discovery in 1963

LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of this course, students should be able to:

• Appreciate the wreck of the Batavia in the context of the history of the Dutch East Indies Company
• Understand the key events of the Batavia wreck and aftermath
• Appreciate the reasons why the Batavia was not located until post WWII
• Understand the way the Batavia wreck is now protected and displayed